Relationship tips and ideas

Based in Perth, WA – all gowns at Zolotas Australia Bridal Wear are handmade and designed by European bridal fashion designer VG Zolotas. Take a look at their amazing collection of one AND two-piece wedding gowns today!

Understanding every bride is unique, Eternal Weddings strives to match every client with the dream wedding gown. Based in Melbourne, this bridal boutique now features the Pronovia 2017 collection and exclusive stocklists of Connie Simonetti wedding gowns among other famous designers. And, offering free alterations (for a limited time) when you order from Eternal Weddings – what are you waiting for?

Whether you’re searching for your dream wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses for your girls, Mori Lee has something to suit everyone’s styles, needs, and budget! Designing bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses for over 60 years, Mori Lee sure knows what they’re talking about! Check out their gallery today, and fall in love all over again!

Specialising in luxurious wedding gowns handmade in Australia using European laces and silks, Grace Loves Lace based on the Gold Coast has something gorgeous for every bride. Check out their amazing range today, and read what other happy brides have to say about their experience with Grace Loves Lace!

Located in Melbourne, Bluebell Bridal stocks exclusive designers and incredible gowns you won’t find anywhere else! With awards three years running for their impeccable service, Bluebell Bridal is well worth a second look! Check out their gallery and read what other incredibly happy brides adore about Bluebell Bridal!

Bomboniere is a small gift given to wedding guests as a “thank you” for their attendance. So how much are Australian couples willing to fork out to send their guests home with a gift? What’s the average wedding bomboniere cost?

According to the Easy Weddings 2016 Annual Australian Wedding Survey, the average price couples are willing to spend on wedding bomboniere is $435.

When it comes to how much couples are willing to part with to send their guests home with a gift to say “Thank you”, the average price varies from state to state across Australia.

New South Wales couples take the cake for this one, forking out an average of $480 for their wedding bomboniere. Closely followed is Victorian couple at $470.

Northern Territory and Queensland couples are willing to put $380 and $350 respectively toward thanking their guests for their attendance.

Western Australian couples put an average of $320 toward bomboniere, while South Australian couples will spend an average of $310.

In this case, Australian Capital Territory couples are the most modest, only forking out an average of $300 for their wedding bomboniere.

40% of couples surveyed say they will purchase bomboniere, while 17% will not. 27% of couples will make their own bomboniere, while 7% will get a family member or friend to make them.

Popular bomboniere choices among couples include food items such as chocolate, cookies, or lollies, as well as homeware items such as candles or potted plants like succulents or cacti.

Bomboniere is a small gift given to wedding guests as a “thank you” for their attendance. So how much are Australian couples willing to fork out to send their guests home with a gift? What’s the average wedding bomboniere cost?

According to the Easy Weddings 2016 Annual Australian Wedding Survey, the average price couples are willing to spend on wedding bomboniere is $435.

When it comes to how much couples are willing to part with to send their guests home with a gift to say “Thank you”, the average price varies from state to state across Australia.

The stats

New South Wales couples take the cake for this one, forking out an average of $480 for their wedding bomboniere. Closely followed is Victorian couple at $470.

Northern Territory and Queensland couples are willing to put $380 and $350 respectively toward thanking their guests for their attendance.

Western Australian couples put an average of $320 toward bomboniere, while South Australian couples will spend an average of $310.

In this case, Australian Capital Territor

Fun facts

40% of couples surveyed say they will purchase bomboniere, while 17% will not. 27% of couples will make their own bomboniere, while 7% will get a family member or friend to make them.

Popular bomboniere choices among couples include food items such as chocolate, cookies, or lollies, as well as homeware items such as candles or potted plants like succulents or cacti.

57% of couples surveyed said they’d be having food items as bomboniere, with 13% choosing homeware items, and 4% choosing to donate to charity instead. 26% of couples chose “other”.

70% of couples say they will spend $1 – $5 per piece of bomboniere. 23% will spend $5 – $10, and 7% of couples will spend $10+ per piece.

2017 prediction

For 2017, the Easy Weddings Annual Wedding Survey results so far conclude a relatively similar average price as was for 2016. This could signify that bomboniere are not gaining in popularity, nor losing popularity. Bomboniere are here to stay.

We will say that there’s a shift towards more unique or original bomboniere ideas, and couples are now striving to put their own personal stamp on their wedding bomboniere.

Located in Perth, WA and searching for your dream wedding florist? Look no further! While these florists may not have the most customer reviews on Easy Weddings, they certainly make up for it in their sparkle and flare! Here’s a list of Perth wedding flowers with a spark, as selected by the editor (me, an original Perthie) by how gorgeous their storefront is.

Gum Blossom Cottage

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Priding themselves on providing good old fashioned service, Gum Blossom Cottage invites you to enjoy a coffee while you browse colour choices and designs for your wedding flowers. Their flowers are only the freshest available and are handpicked from flower markets for your special day. And, with customised quotes to suit all budgets and delivering on your wedding day, Gum Blossom Cottage is the “go to” for wedding flowers.

Sweet Floral

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With over 13 years experience, Sweet Floral offers to work with you to create your dream bridal flowers. Promising great value for money and exceptional service, you can even hold a flower crown party for your hen’s night with Sweet Floral! Check out their gallery and reviews today, and see why so many happy couples adore Sweet Floral!

Jane and Jones Flower Co.

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Promising every bouquet and arrangement is handmade with love and care, the passionate team at Jane and Jones Flower Co. offers to transform your wedding with stunning fresh flowers that showcase your individual style and flare. Working with your plans, style, and your budget, Jane and Jones Flower Co. promises to create personalised designs perfectly suited to you. Check out their gallery and book your free one-hour consultation with Jane and Jones Flower Co. today!

So, you’re heading to a wedding and you want to look good. Really good. Whether you are clueless or know nothing about wedding dress codes, here are some simple wedding guest outfit ideas that might help you with your conundrum! Good luck.

General wedding guest outfits:

For the lads: If in doubt, put a suit on. It really is that simple! Rock a gorgeous suit tailored to fit you and you’ll look amazing instantly. If it’s too hot, take off your jacket once the formalities are over if you deem it appropriate. And PLEASE remember appropriate socks. They can break an outfit.

For the ladies: For most weddings, as a wedding guest, you should aim for elegant sophistication. Depending on the dress code, you may have to wear a long dress like the one below. Go for slightly overdressed rather than too casual, and avoid white/ivory/cream at all costs. No super short hemlines or anything too tight to dance in- you want to enjoy yourself!

Something a little more casual:

If it’s a casual or cocktail affair, you can afford to buy a dress that isn’t floor length or a dress shirt and pants or bow tie. For the guys, you could even play around with prints and a little colour if you see it fit:

Father of the bride and father of the groom outfits:

Ideally, dad will have left his moccasins at home and look dapper on your wedding day. He would put on his tie, and get his favourite dress shirt on with a blazer and slacks. Maybe even throw in a pocket square on boutonniere so he is even more on fleek!

Are you currently planning a summer wedding? Sure, you might not run the same risk of rain that a winter wedding would, but that doesn’t mean the weather will be pleasant all round. Here’s what you need to survive an Australian summer wedding.

Handkerchief

I don’t know about you, but when I’ve had the “pleasure” of sitting outside on a 35℃ day, my upper lip sweats LIKE CRAZY. Mix the heat with your nerves, and not only will you have a sweaty upper lip, but also your temples, underarms, and the back of your neck. Wipe that sh*t up!

Extra makeup

With all that sweating, you might actually sweat your face makeup off. Bring extra makeup in an emergency kit to touch up if need to.

Perfume

Two words: You’ll stink. Bring extra perfume and deodorant.

Water

There’s a high chance of dehydration on your wedding day. Why? Because you’ll probably have been drinking champagne since 6am, barely eaten anything, and the heat is drying you up like a pickle left out in the sun. Drink up, folks!

Fans

Please supply your guests with paper fans to cool themselves down. You might be so immersed in your ceremony not to care about the heat, but I assure you – your family and friends care! Some guests might even decide to boycott your wedding entirely if it’s outside on a day that’s simply too hot, and if you have made no attempt to accommodate or protect them

Airconditioner

Ensure your venues and wedding transport have airconditioner before you book your summer wedding with them. A hot indoor venue is enough to send people home early, and nobody wants to open the windows of their Rolls Royce on the way to the ceremony – HELLO windswept hair?! Not cute.

Shade

If you do decide on an outdoor ceremony venue in the height of summer, make sure you choose an area beneath trees or with ample shade. Do your family and friends a justice and protect them from severe sun burn or heat stroke. They’ll thank you for it and won’t always remember your wedding as “the one that gave Uncle James third degree burns”.

Are you currently planning a summer wedding? Sure, you might not run the same risk of rain that a winter wedding would, but that doesn’t mean the weather will be pleasant all round. Here’s what you need to survive an Australian summer wedding.

Handkerchief

I don’t know about you, but when I’ve had the “pleasure” of sitting outside on a 35℃ day, my upper lip sweats LIKE CRAZY. Mix the heat with your nerves, and not only will you have a sweaty upper lip, but also your temples, underarms, and the back of your neck. Wipe that sh*t up!

Extra makeup

With all that sweating, you might actually sweat your face makeup off. Bring extra makeup in an emergency kit to touch up if need to.

Perfume

Two words: You’ll stink. Bring extra perfume and deodorant.

Water

There’s a high chance of dehydration on your wedding day. Why? Because you’ll probably have been drinking champagne since 6am, barely eaten anything, and the heat is drying you up like a pickle left out in the sun. Drink up, folks!

Fans

Please supply your guests with paper fans to cool themselves down. You might be so immersed in your ceremony not to care about the heat, but I assure you – your family and friends care! Some guests might even decide to boycott your wedding entirely if it’s outside on a day that’s simply too hot, and if you have made no attempt to accommodate or protect them from the elements. I can’t imagine my 82 year old grandmother sat out in the sun for an hour – can you?

Airconditioner

Ensure your venues and wedding transport have airconditioner before you book your summer wedding with them. A hot indoor venue is enough to send people home early, and nobody wants to open the windows of their Rolls Royce on the way to the ceremony – HELLO windswept hair?! Not cute.

Shade

If you do decide on an outdoor ceremony venue in the height of summer, make sure you choose an area beneath trees or with ample shade. Do your family and friends a justice and protect them from severe sun burn or heat stroke. They’ll thank you for it and won’t always remember your wedding as “the one that gave Uncle James third degree burns”.

Whether you want a long or short honeymoon- a cruise has many luxury and affordable options with a huge variety of locations and lengths. Sit back, enjoy the pool, activities and delicious meals and take in the incredible surroundings.

This private island escape has honeymoon and even destination wedding packages- for just $1800! Which is insane! And there is just one resort on the island of Bokissa. You can have your own island!

These epic overwater huts are insane! Perfect for a 7-day escape post wedding. This package includes all meals and drinks- even alcohol. What’s more relaxing than being able to not worry about extra costs?

Enjoy the luxurious escape- spending time in Melbourne as a holidayer. Whether you’re from Melbourne or not- you have to appreciate its hustle and bustle and an incredible array of food and amazing coffee.

Describing herself as a creative, energetic, and fun celebrant, Jessie Cacchillo loves loved up couples, a vintage frock, and taking the time to create and deliver your dream wedding ceremony. With a background as an actor, artist, and stylist, Jessie understands how important it is to create a unique ceremony tailored to each and every couple. And yes, she did perform Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster’s wedding ceremony!

Here’s what Hamish and Zoe had to say about Jessie Cacchillo – Civil Marriage Celebrant:

“A celebrant who wasn’t a drongo or who used weddings as a chance to explore their frustrated musical theatre/stand up comedy talents. Found one in Jessie Cacchillo who was fantastic and fun and looked terrific in canary yellow on the day.”

Are you considering having a destination wedding? If you aren’t sure whether to marry in Australia or travel overseas for your big day, here are some pros and cons to help you make your decision.

Couples choose to get married overseas for many different reasons. Here are the pros and cons of having a destination wedding: Why do couples choose to get married overseas?

What are the pros and cons of having a destination wedding?

Ah, the romantic notion of getting hitched in paradise. Many couples do plan and have a destination wedding. But as with most things to do with a wedding, there are advantages and disadvantages of travelling overseas to get married.

Let’s start with the pros.

It’s pretty much picking a country and place – great choices are available!

In many countries, the costs are cheaper

You can follow the sun

Your guest list is very selective- it’s easier to have a small wedding

Using a local wedding planner saves you time and stress

Within reason, you can have your wedding in almost every country. The choice is fabulous. Of course, there are many factors to consider but if you want a particular location, the world is your oyster.

If you’ve traveled to many countries, you will know about the cost of living. In some countries, you can dine out every night because the prices are so reasonable. It’s possible to have a wedding for a much more reasonable cost than here at home. If you worry about your wedding day being cold and wet, by choosing a destination where the sun seldom takes a holiday, you can enjoy the beautiful weather on your beautiful day.

By choosing an overseas location, many people will not be able to attend. This can be a disadvantage but also an advantage. You are able to invite a select number of guests. Looking to trim your guests list? Head OS.

You will seriously benefit from a reputable and expert wedding planner who resides where you are to hold your wedding. They will know the best deals and venues. They will speak the language and better be able to work with the vendors. It’ll also save you stress.

But there are cons, too:

People you want to attend won’t

It’s not a one-day event

You might have to have a priest

The Oz dollar does move about

The paperwork can be messy

You have family and friends who would love to attend your wedding but can’t. The cost could be too much. They may not have a passport. They may not be able to be away for that amount of time.

With a local wedding, most of your guests hop in their car, arrive; enjoy the wedding and then drive home again that same day. No can do with a destination wedding. Depending on your destination, travel time can involve several days.

You are not religious and both want a celebrant. In some countries that is not possible. Or at least you will be required to have a priest participate. Check the country’s customs and requirements before you choose the destination.

In Australia, the quotes you get will be good for a fixed and stated time. If you marry overseas, the quote may remain the same but the currency can change. Yes, it could change in your favour. But if it goes the other way, your budget could be holed below the bottom-line.

Every country has paperwork for marriages. Some countries have more forms than others. And if you are legally married in another country, changing your name back home is not as easy as when you are married on home soil.

A recent post on bridal forum Wedding Bee asked the simple question: “Did anyone not book a videographer and regret it?” Here’s what some of the answers said, and where we here at Easy Weddings sit on the debate.

For wedding videography

“Videography captured what the photographer didn’t.”

One fellow bride weighed in on the discussion, admitting that she actually didn’t love her wedding photographyas much as she previously assumed she would. However, she feels her videographer captured everything, including their happiness and joy on the day, that perhaps didn’t translate in still photography. The bride, suprisebride, says “It was easily the best money we spent.”

“It’s worth every penny.”

Another bride under the handle ‘catskillsinjune’ described her absolute adoration for her wedding video. She believes the video captured so much life and energy of her day, and she’d watched their highlights video every day for the past month. “My sister still watches hers whenever she needs a pick me up 2 and a half years after her wedding!”

“I was on the fence until…”

User ‘bluecutie00 shared that although she was originally on the fence about videography, she’s now booked her wedding videographer. To sway her decision, she created a poll. She says, “One of the poll responders mentioned how her wedding video captured the laughs, sounds, and smiles of people in her life that had since passed, and that was her last memory of them. That completely sealed the deal for me.”

“We’ll never watch it.”

A user named ‘minimeow’ says she and her partner didn’t get one, and there weren’t any regrets about it. They themselves knew they wouldn’t watch the video enough for it to be worth the price, and therefore saw no point in budgeting for it. She admits that they have yet to do anything with their wedding photography also, so perhaps it just depends on whether photography or film of your day is something you put a large emphasis on for your wedding day.

“I’m more of a photo person.”

User ‘raspberrybidet’ says she rarely watches videos of past life events, and her partner felt the same. “I’m much more of a photo person than a video person,” she says. “I decided to spend more on an awesome photographer and forego hiring and videographer.”